City came from behind to deservedly claim all three points at Forest Green’s New Lawn for the third consecutive season. In fact it was the Imps’ sixth win in a row against Mark Cooper’s side.

A deflected free kick in the sixth minute saw Rovers take the lead through Reece Brown, but John Akinde levelled matters just six minutes later.

Bruno Andrade was then fouled in the area late on in the match and Akinde, after a lengthy delay, kept his cool to send James Montgomery the wrong way from the spot to earn Danny Cowley’s men three points.

Forest Green got the game underway but Andrade intercepted George Williams’ pass immediately from kick off and set off to attack down the left flank.

After his cross was put out for a throw, he latched on to Eardley’s cross, but was blocked as he looked to tap home an early opener.

At the other end the hosts were equally as lively with Shawn McCoulsky testing Matt Gilks with a fine turn and volley, but the City stopper was equal to it.

The frantic opening continued and Rovers did break the deadlock in the sixth minute. Williams was fouled by Neal Eardley following a neat one-two with Reece Brown and Brown saw his free kick deflect off the Imps wall to leave Gilks with no chance, rooted to the spot.

The Imps looked for an immediate response as Andrade won a corner on the left as his cross was put behind with Matt Rhead lurking.

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Michael O’Connor’s resulting corner found Michael Bostwick, but his header flew just wide.

The equaliser did come in the 12 minute, however, as good work down the right saw Harry Anderson tee up Eardley, and his pinpoint cross was expertly headed home by John Akinde who grabbed his second goal of the week.

Lincoln City's John Akinde, right, celebrates scoring his side's equalising goal to make the score 1-1 with team-mate Harry Anderson.

Cowley’s men were now well on top and attacked once more down the right. This time Anderson made space for himself before seeing his neat dink rise over Montgomery, but agonisingly land on the roof of the net.

Eardley was in the thick of the action again in the 18 minute and again found Akinde at the back post, but this time the forward’s header was tipped over by Montgomery.

Four minutes later Rovers had Montgomery to thank once more as a brilliant Matt Rhead header was well kept out by the goalkeeper.

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The Imps emerged for the second half unchanged, while Forest Green introduced Lee Collins in place of Nathan McGinley.

City began the second half as they did the first winning three corners in quick succession, the third of which resulted in Toffolo seeing his shot saved. Montgomery’s resulting goal kick was blocked by the back of Akinde at point-blank range, but the ball rebounded to safety.

Ten minutes into the half, Eardley ended a Forest Green attack and found Anderson breaking at speed on the right. The winger played the ball inside to Akinde, but his return ball was half a yard too far behind and the hosts cleared their lines.

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Rhead’s work was done with 20 minutes left (queue a chorus of boos from the home fans) and he was duly replaced by Shay McCartan. McCartan made an immediate impressiuon finding Akinde 25 yards from goal. The big man wrong-footed two defenders but lashed his shot well over and saw the ball hit the roof of the stand.

Five minutes later Andrade attacked effectively down the left and was bundled over in the area by Collins. As Akinde stepped up to take the penalty play was delayed because of an injury to McCoulsky. After a spell of treatment Akinde calmly sent Montgomery the wrong way to put the Imps ahead.

McCartan almost put the game beyond doubt four minutes later after rushing through on goal having been played in by Akinde, but Mongomery got out well to block and required treatment for his troubles.

With two minutes on the clock Cowley made his third and final change bringing on Cian Bolger in place of Andrade.

The referee signalled, quite expectedly, five minutes of added time much to the dismay of the travelling supporters as Rovers won a needless corner conceded by Toffolo – when in fact it looked like handball by the left back.